Gallagher, who won an astounding $275,000 in Global Mazda MX-5 Cup competition in 2017, converted his Mazda support into a move up to the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge ranks in 2018.

The Ohio State alum, Gallagher returned to his home state and track for his best finish of the 2018 season in the No. 8 ModSpace Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4.

Gallagher’s former Global Mazda MX-5 Cup team co-owner Chad McCumbee co-drove with Gallagher, and started the race from pole position for the two-hour event.

The former NASCAR pilot was no slouch in the race, either, following up his run to the pole as his race pace continued to impress as he was the only GS driver to break into the 1:27.00s, posting a fast time of 1:27.908-seconds.

After turning the car over to Gallagher to take to the finish, the duo were well-placed for a podium and fought for a win. With one a single caution period it was a sprint to the checkered as Gallagher worked his No. 8 ModSpace GT4 machine through traffic.

The storybook home town run came just shy of the top step after Gallagher lost the lead as his rear tires lost grip in the waning moments of the race.

The result is the first full distance the duo have reached this season and is their first podium of the year as well as Gallagher finished 2nd in the 24-car GS Class field on the 2.238-mile circuit completing 77 laps.

“I am happy to be back to my home track to race with my friends and family able to be here,” said Gallagher. “I am bummed to not get the big trophy today for ModSpace and Mazda, but we just ran out of tire at the end and I was a sitting duck. I learned a ton though and it is cool to get our first podium. It’s frustrating to miss the win by such a small margin, it just wasn’t our day but we will just keep the momentum going onto the next race.”

The next race on the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge schedule returns to Watkins Glen for the Continental Tire 240 at The Glen.